First point. Getting Jim Harbaugh is far more important than any recruit.

And why the delay? There could be several reasons. JH hasn't made his decision yet, or he has accepted the job but wants to coach Stanford in a BCS Bowl game. Only David Brandon knows for sure and he isn't talking.

We are worrying only about the recruits we have been given info on here! Jim Harbaugh could have a stable full of defensive recruits he can bring along with him that might not be the 2 star recruits we are getting. And if anybody wants to take time and look up our recruits year by year we for many years brought in at least 1or 2 of the TOP recruits EVERY YEAR. I wish i could say that is true with our current coach but facts are facts. We are NOT getting the best talent like we should be because WE ARE MICHIGAN! If it's Rich Rod or Jim Harbaugh, Let's pick it up and get it done.

This waiting thing is NOT going to help with recruiting whatsoever. I think everybody on Mgoblog will agree whether a RR supporter or Harbaugh slappy, that we DO NOT have the luxury of an off year recruiting right now with our current depth issues. Potentially losing a recruit of Dee Hart's stature is a big blow in my book and really depresses me more with all the other BS surrounding the program.

Whether he is or not, which we don't know; RR is recruiting as a lame duck coach right now & programs have to just be BASHING him on the recruiting trail. He's basically showing up at a gun fight with a butter knife.

I like DB, the dude is sharp. I sure as hell hope he's got something up his sleeve. Cause if UM turns into the nightmare that watching the Pistons or Lions is right now I might be doing wind sprints on I275 into oncoming traffic!

This is what DB fails to acknowledge - that holding out on making a decision is going to result in the loss of blue chip kids. SA guy like D could be the difference between a 1-dimensional rushing attack and a truly dominant unstoppable offense.

To me, if we lose this kid, and then DB ultimately keeps RR (this is not an argument one way or the other), than his loss is a major screw-up on DB's part.

I am trying really hard not to be a conspiracy theorist, but unless DB either has a deal or wants to maximize his chances of landing JH, his actions don't make sense. I think you are probably right, but if that really is the case, are they going to be able to hold firm to this "no comment" for over a month? Also, if that is the case, is that really fair to RR, to let him twist in the wind?

This is a completely bullshit rumor, as far as I'm concerned, but it comes from someone who used to play for Bo, still lives in Ann Arbor, and has purportedly deep connections to the UM football community. Anyway, said dude claims that Brandon and Harbaugh don't see eye to eye, and that each has an ego large enough to preclude working with the other.

... same guy also claims that Bill Martin's wife is a lesbian, that The Sailor himself goes after college-aged girls, and that Lloyd left his consulting position in the athletic department because various truths about paying players and academic shenanigans were otherwise going to be outed. So he might be insane. But he did earn multiple letters under Bo.

I thought there was a pretty clear break between "rumor spread by potentially crazy person that is somewhat plausible" (Brandon and Harbaugh are egotistical guys that don't really like each other) and "completely batshit crazy stuff that no one will take seriously."

Really, my point was that even those who credibly claim insider connections to the program can be completely wackadoo in the truths they peddle, and I also thought it was somewhat intereseting to show just how wackadoo we're talkin' here. And, then I topped it off with a barb directed toward the "Harbaugh played for Bo derp derp" crowd.

I hope Dee stays blue, but we are talking about ONE recruit. This just in...recruits don't always pan out, even the top tier ones. KELLY BARAKA, ANYONE? Billed as the 2nd coming of Christ, but couldn't put the bong down. How about the Turner kid...where is he now? Putting one or two recruits above the HC decision is faulty logic. If Harbaugh comes, we may do even BETTER with recruiting.

What did Bo say? "The TEAM, the TEAM, the TEAM." Coaching staff is FAR more important than one recruit. Even more important than ALL of the new recruits. I'm not even saying I want Rich gone, in fact I'm in the "one more year" camp, but the D and special teams must change or he's out of here.

Look what "one recruit" did for this program this year in denard robinson. Look what losing "one recruit" did this year for this program in Troy Woolfolk. Wake up. Recruiting is the lifeblood of a program. One recruit can make it or break it. Just ask Auburn and Cam Newton.

that is some RABBLE RABBLEI can get behind. Also, I do think there are some people out there that do not agree with the bomb clip. I bet they are stout proponents of the current START treaty waiting to ratified.

P.S. Where is profitgoblue when we need him? He has a bajillion points to neg people into Bolivian.

Per user JFactor on the premium board at GBW, he heard from the "most reliable source out there" that Dee will make an announcement tomorrow after his game. It is Jfactor's feeling based on conversations and the fact that Alabama has been in Dee's school all day, that this means he will be switching his commitment to Alabama.

He's also holding out hope that perhaps Dee is building suspense for an Army Bowl announcement. JFactor has been very reliable WRT Dee in the past, for what it's worth.

I'm not sure why this deserves to be negged. I think it's a legitimate concern that uncertainty regarding Rodriguez might hurt this recruiting class, which would put the program in an even deeper whole in terms of talent/depth, which would be a major obstacle to the success of a potential new HC.

I'm personally terrified that the longer Michigan stays off the map of elite teams, the closer the South Bend nightmare is to coming to Ann Arbor.

Not a surprise. There will be many more given the fact that these kids won't know if the coach who recruited them will be their coach. Brandon is not an idiot, so I have to assume he knows his waiting will hurt recruiting. Which means he's planning to replace Rich Rod. I think this is bad now matter how you look at it.

First of all, I want Rich Rod back. My point is/was that when you have blue chip recruits hearing that the coach that recruited them may be fired in a few weeks, why would they stay? Especially if you do not have ties to the institution? I'm prepared for a terrible recruiting class, due in part to the LONG wait by Brandon. I wish he would come out and say "Rich Rod" is our coach and end all of the negative recruiting that is going on right now.

stop when the 20....million posts of RR/JH/DB/Panic/Emo/ITS HIS FAULT!!!! shit stops. Once it stops, I have no reason to nuke. I find it funny you are more annoyed with this...look down this thread. That doesn't annoy you more than a 40 second clip of an atomic bomb that takes up the space of all of one post? You sir are a blind panda.

First of all, you have one of my heroes as your avatar, so I must congratulate you.

Secondly, I hope you are not lumping me in the EMO/It's RR's fault crowd. It's simply logical for an 18 year old big time recruit to reconsider when there is a chance that the coach may be fired. Even Brian has written about the possiblity that Rich Rod may not be our coach next month. I just wish Brandon would support Rich Rod NOW and help get us ready to competing for championships!

I didn't nuke you, I sounded a rumor siren. I couldn't have even been close on a prediction of what ensued afterwards. Makes the siren more applicable now.

Mind=blown with the emotions of an 8 year old girl on here. Dee hasn't decommitted yet officially and we have a meltdown that makes Chernobyl look like spilled water. (not even milk)

Instead of rationally looking at the situation as we might lose him, but we are still stacked in the backfield and have Hayes on board, people complain about what bothers them and voice opinions that don't contribute anything but more ANGAR and division.

Point in case? Look who has the most negged post on this thread. Was it a post on RR being fired based on flimsy and hypothetical situations? Nope. It was a clip of an atom bomb.

The same people that would bitch if you slammed their threads about the same beaten horse of fire [fill in the blank] tell us to move on and say "If we don't like it, don't look at it." Yet, their selective rule does not apply to one post in the thread.

Again Mind=Blown.

All you can do is craugh (cry +laugh).

You sir have unleashed a shitstorm of epic proportions. Haha. Unfortunately if Dee does decommit, they will have fresh meat to continue the FIRE RABBLE RABBLE. Reminds me of turkey vultures spotting a fresh roadkill.

Edit: I did nuke you. Can't unnuke so I have then +1 you for being civil and not struck with cut wrists by the sudden outflowing of this emo thread. May your avatar make a fast recovery from radiation poisoning.

....In other news, I have a few hundred faxes from the Hunter in my basement that I got from his editor at the end, Douglas Brinkley. He was a former professor of mine. He gave them to me when I last saw him in New Orleans (it's mostly from "Better than Sex). It might be nice to dig them out and read them just to get my mind off of all the negativity.

It is a tough call. I like the Rum Diary and The Great Shark Hunt. I still have yet to read Generation of Swine.

Just interviewed for TFA today. I am hoping I get in and placed in Detroit. That way, I can make the home games every weekend. Yes, I requested Detroit so I could go to Michigan games. That and I will be enrolled for grad classes at U of M.

Has been dancing about his commitment moreso than his running through the defense. Who knows where he ends up and it may seem like a headcase anyway. If RR stays and this kid becomes a Wolverine, then great. If Harbaugh becomes head coach and this kid does not become a Wolverine then I don't give a shit about his future.

He took longer than our impatient fan base would have liked to verbal, but he did what was expected. Now the coach that has been recruiting him for three years is sitting in limbo while an AD that apparently doesn't understand today's youth says nothing and thinks there is going to be no repercussions. What do you expect him to do especially since he is enrolling early. Bama isn't even a great fit for him, but at least he doesn't have to worry about the coach he commits to not being there when he arrives days after our bowl game. Actually with Saban you never know.

Your post? Read it again. Then read it one more time. Then realize that it's people like you with this crappy attitude of judging a kid you don't even know who's trying to figure out his life for the next 3 or 4 years that's creating a negative image of this fan-base. I boo you, I boo your attitude, and I say kindly refrain from posting stuff like this ever again.

If you ever feel the need to spew this crap, I recommend shutting your computer down and taking a walk to evaluate where your life is at that you feel the need to say hateful stuff about 18 year old kids who are just trying to live their lives and do the best they can for themselves.

And if you're wondering what set me off:

...and this kid does not become a Wolverine then I don't give a shit about his future.

Everyone who follows college football with anything more than a passing interest knows that Rodriguez is on the hottest of hot seats because he's gone 15-21 over the past 3 years and failed to beat MSU or OSU even once at one of the best programs in the country. Recruits know this. So yeah, I doubt that the fire Rodriguez crowd had anything to do with Hart decommitting.

On his facebook he asks an Auburn fan what time the game is on. Who knows? I think i am gonna only tune into commitments on National Signing Day. Too many headaches and emotions over these kind of events.

Poster is usually pretty good and not a goof. Someone else posted earlier on scout about hearing from Dee that he was switching to Bama. But they both said in posts that maybe Dee was going to switch back at the Army game. Cross your balls folks....

Shouldn't be surprised, his original commitment was contingent on RR being the coach. That said it isn't official yet, things can change quickly in recruiting.

You can probably put Sousa in a similar place as if I remember correctly, his decision had a lot to do with RR's offense. It should be clear over the next few weeks who is committed to the school and who is committed to the coach.

"I liked Michigan either way and if [Coach Rodriguez] were to leave it wouldn't affect me because I think I can play in any offensive system. So it really wasn't my concern. That being said I wanted to make sure everything came together. He's winning ball games right now and the future looks good so it's coming together."

For him not to be concerned about it, its odd he goes out of his way to address it, and refer to how good the future looked. Do you think this is the good looking future he saw back then? The whole reason this well established UM lock didn't commit was because of the coaching situation since last winter. If it wasn't an issue, why is he supposedly committing to bama tomorrow?

You can interpret that however you want..he say right there it would not affect him. I know the internet say he his decommitting..and the internet is always right. I mean RR was fired on Monday and ND ruturned to glory this year right? Oh..well we can't take Dee at his word, so even if he does change his committment I guess I have no reason to beleive him.. Irish says he doesn't always mean what he says, so no matter what he says I will assume he is actualy coming to UM

He's directly contradicting what you said above, but feel free and try and spin it in such a way that his words don't mean what they say by reading his mind or whatever. If there's a resident expert at fear of losing commits amid coaching changes, it'd be you.

You're wrong about having any idea, one way or the other, what his original commitment was contingent upon. You said above it was contingent upon Rodriguez being coach. He's the coach. You offered a quote where he said it doesn't matter and suggested 1) he was talking about it just because it happened to cross his mind, although I'm sure it's in response to a question and 2) that it supported your previous comment, which it did not.

So, you are wrong. Don't pretend like you have any idea why he may or may not be switching. You're speculating which is fine. Just don't state it as fact or pretend that you were somehow right with your comments two posts ago.

Why are people blaming Brandon for this? I mean the only big thing he will be deciding in the next few weeks is whether RR is going to be the coach at UM. They must be crazy to think that way. And why would one of the top 15 players in the country be all that worried about who is going to coach them for the next 4 years of their life, its only the biggest decision of his life.

Lets totally disregard all that, what is that worth? Probably just throw in how long it took him to commit, he was just a UM lock since last year at this time. That spring/summer visit he made with his mom so she would be ok with the coaches; amid the ncaa crap and the coaches job security before the season started, obviously indicators of nothing.

We could look at what has changed at UM since he made those quotes on Oct 12, but what would that really.......oh 2 of 6 well no that can't have anything to do with it. So that all just reflects on RR's coaching status but it can't mean anything

Just spit balling here, is Hart an EE? With Brandon not deciding on RR till after the bowl game do you think that has anything to do with his decision? Lol, what am I asking that for it was just an idea I had.

People are blaming Brandon because part of what is killing recruiting is all the uncertainty about RR's job status, and it would be nice if he would make a statement supporting the head coach. & if you read Dee Hart's quote, he says "I liked Michigan either way and if [Coach Rodriguez] were to leave it wouldn't affect me because I think I can play in any offensive system. So it really wasn't my concern." It sucks that it souns like he's decommiting tomorrow but pretending like you actually know why is idiotic. Now please go back to your favorite ND board where your team can't beat Michigan and hasn't been relevant since 1993. Thanks.

He's having a fair conversation and you bring up a totally unrelated death of a student at his school? That is fathoms below cool.

Dee Hart wants to enroll in school in January. We won't be able to tell him who his head coach will be until after that. Irish is right: Hart's statement on Michigan regardless of who's the coach isn't as cut-and-dry as we were making it out to be.

Did he "go out of his way to address it" or did some journalist just ask him? They're more obsessed with a potential coaching change than MLive commenters, and it's probably the first question asked of every recruit at this point. That said, anybody who thinks a potential coaching/system change won't influence a recruit is being naive. What's Dee supposed to say? 'Uh, yeah, if RR is gone, so am I.' May as well keep it bland and avoid controversy than become the Jimmy Chitwood of Michigan football, saving the coach at an angry town hall meeting.

I would like to address the theory that all DB has to do is hold a press conference and everything is hunky-dory and Michigan can go forth and haul in a top 5 recruiting class.

Unfortunately, thats not the case. Announcing a press conference just makes DB look weak by changing his course of action to pander to the mob. And stating that RRod will be back next year won't stop the negative recruiting, because it will look like he only has one more chance, and other coaches will call it a lame duck situation. Recruits want a coach that will be there for all 4-5 years.

I don't think RRod has gotten a fair shake, but unfortunately this is the situation that the program is in. DB has been upfront with the process he will employ, I think he should stick to it.

I don't necessarily agree with they way Brandon is conducting this, but he has said from the beginning of the year that this is how it would play out, even back when we were starting the season 5-0. Can't fault him for staying true to his word.

This is a direct side effect of all the crap talkin about RR. Good work folks.....keep calling yourselves fans all you who are jonesin' because 7-5 is not good enough.

Question: I have two season tix that I share with a friend.(we split the games) I told him that if the fanbase drives RR out of town this year I am giving my tix up. Is this a dumb thing to do and am I really not a true fan? Serious question. I am just so fed up with this fanbase. Spoiled, unrealistic idiots. Really, someone help me deal with this.

It's not about love for RR, its about being patient with a coach. A coach NEEDS four years. This attitude of "what have you done for me lately" is sickening. I love UofM when Bo was coach and when Mo was coach and when Lloyd was coach and as RR is coach. I might try to love UofM when __________ is the next coach but I am old enough now to understand that some things are worth standing for and if the AD and fanbase drive RR out after not allowing him to get a full class through......I might just be stubborn enough to say I'm done.

This shit is killing me too, fucking guys like dahblue and his ilk prattling on incessantly about Rodriguez have fueled this MSM dog-kicking-fest that has brought us here. Results matter, obviously, but be fair to yourselves people.

with a 15-21 record 6-18 in the bigten is cause enough for you to be done..then goodbye. It would be torture for me to waste another year with a coach who I dont beleive will ever succeed here..but nothing will ever get me to be "done" with this program. I don't care if Mat Millen became out next AD I would sit through it again. But hey, dont let me stop you from being a fairweather fan...I would prefer to weed them out now anyway. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

I beleive anyone who stops being a fan because the program does something they do not agree with is a fairweather fan..shoot me or "whatrevs" If everyone had you're attitude we would'nt have been filling th Big House for the past 3 years..but i'm happy to say most people are bigger fans of Michigan then they are for or against RR

Pulling the fairweather card makes you sound dumb. Being a "fan" doesn't mean you have to support every decision that is made or agree with or go along with or bite your tongue. If Michigan pulled a Bob Jones U and made interracial dating against school policy you can damn bet I'd be a different kind of fan of the school. You start to sound like the people who say "You don't like the way things are? Then leave!" as if decent is unacceptable. The point is there are circumstances to consider. To blindly acquiesce is the sort of mindset that leads to the Stanford Prison Experiment.

While I, and many, share your frustrations, I believe you should always be a fan to the Maize and Blue first and the personnel second. Coaches change but the University of Michigan is the constant. And segments of every fan base are plain god awful, ours not excepted.

And thanks JT....I know it sounds trivial and childish to think I wouldn't support the program, but is it worth supporting when it acts like this? I lettered three years for a DIII program and all of this DI junk with WIN NOW coaching changes and Cam Newton situations really makes me questions my love for a program like UofM. Gosh, it kills me to say that because I grew up with a Dad who would haul out the speakers on the front porch to blast the Victors every Saturday morning. It's just sports, right?

My thought is, if RR gets shown the door after this year, he will not have gotten a fair shot. And this is certainly due in part to our fanbase and local media.

You don't have to look far to see why RR has been treated the way he has. We have the great fortune to support the winningest NCAAF program in existence. Ann Arbor and U of M in particular have a reputation for being of the uppity, better-than-you mentality (for good reason, IMO). We are spoiled and impatient... for better or worse. Sometimes this works in our favor. We expect to win and hold our players and coaches to a high standard. Recruits want to play here and coaches want to coach here for these very reasons.

However, sometimes these things don't work in our favor, like right now. The pressure is a lot to deal with, and furthermore the Detroit media loves to kick us when we're down, which compounds things. It's ugly right now.

What I'm really trying to say is I'm right there with you. Lately I've been contemplating the very same things. All the bandwagon-jumping and impatience amongst our fanbase is aggravating and depressing. But the longer I've thought about it, the more I realize it comes with the territory of being a Michigan fan. Personally I hope RR gets a fair shake, but if Harbaugh or someone else gets brought in, they'll have my full support. Hope this helps.

I just feel like being stubborn and selfish myself by not supporting the program if RR is canned in the next 30 days.(again, while I support RR it could be Chip Kelly on the hot seat in this situation and I would still be frustrated)

I'm sure at the end of the day my love runs too deep to turn my back but the last 3 months has really made me question things.

Completely agree. The last 30 days has made me question whether I want to be a part of a fanbase that is so fucking stupid they are making things worse for the team. If this rumor is true (which I don't think it is) the reason is because of the fanbase. Whiney, entitled, mostly very stupid when it comes to football; this fanbase is by far the most irritating and embarrassingly uninformed of any fanbase I have ever seen. It is an embarrassment. Simple as that. I am about to be an alumni. This fanbase is an embarrassment.

I hear what you guys are saying, but is giving up on Your Team and Your School (or contemplating it on a blog) because of stupid fans any less dumb or less damaging to recruiting than complaining about the coach?

At this point, it doesn't really matter what Brandon does. If other schools smell blood in the water, that's all they need to pry these kids away. The worst-case scenario, and one that I am starting to believe might happen, is Brandon drag this out for a couple of weeks, let RR lose some recruits, play the bowl game and then fire RR after he has (or thinks he has) Harbaugh signed up. At that point, you'll see some kids leave while others come with Harbaugh, and we'll begin another 2-3 year odyssey of "just give JH time - he needs to get his guys in before we'll win." Oh happy day!

As much as I like Demetrius Hart, we have a handful of other running backs. If Fitzgerald Toussaint can stay healthy, he'll be good. We also have Hayes, potentially Rawls, and potentially Nealy in the mix.

Hart is a luxury this year. So whether he ends up at Alabama or not, this would not be the worst thing that could happen.

Losing Hart on the micro level isn't that big of a deal, but when a top recruit (potentially) leaves a program, that sends a signal to other guys on the radar that there is something off with the school, and that has a ripple effect that can't really be offset.

Great point, RB is not a position of need, its a luxury. If we miss out on all of the defensive players on the board we should begin to worry. There is a long way until signing day. Over the next month their is going to be plenty of turmoil.

And yet with a bad defense that couldn't get the ball back, and a first-time sophomore starting quarterback, we still had a very effective offense. And essentially everyone returns except Schilling (and Dorrestein, who's not that much better than Huyge, who returns). Vincent Smith will be stronger after his ACL recovers further, Toussaint will hopefully be healthy, Shaw will be back, etc.

Yes, he's a game changer. But it's not worth fretting about if he decommits.

It doesn't make sense to say "our offense is fine, we don't have to worry about that anymore", and I'm glad the coaches don't think that either. The better our offense is the less stress we put on our rebuilding defense. We certainly haven't hit our offensive plateau.

Obviously not every top high school player pans out, but Dee is exciting as hell, and we have ALL been pining for a game-changing tailback. It does make a difference.

Sometimes I don't agree with Magnus but on this point he is correct. Losing an elite running back is problematic but I'll take my chances with Thomas Rawls (qualify my friend) and Justice Hayes with our friend Stephen Hopkins to deliver the hammer for the next three years.

I agree with this, especially on the offensive side of the ball as you are saying. Having said that, I do not like how Brandon is handling this thing. He literally could not cast more doubt on the situation. If you are going to fire RR, do it. If you want to have Harbaugh locked up, offer him the job and say it's one time deal, take it or leave it. If it is that important to him, he will leave Standford when he accepts it. Maybe the bowl game will truly determine RR's fate, I don't know but that seems awfully unfair to base things off one game when you have a three year sample size. So right now, he is saying he will look at everything. If recruiting is one thing he is looking at, he is undoubtedly hurting this class. This opinion was not brought on by this situation, I thought this right away. I just don't see how holding off helps us. In every way it looks like it hurts.

I'm with you to an extent, but there were a number of instances this year when having a gamebreaking RB would have really helped. And for all the talk of him being a "luxury", UM should be able to get the top RBs in the country if they want them. Elite talent may be a luxury, but it shouldn't be that strange at top-notch schools.

We did not have a consistent RB this year. Because of this-- denard was forced to carry an extra load, our read option couldn't stretch the defense and we probably turned the ball over more based on 3rd down throws.

This team needs a good RB to compete in big games. We don't have that now.

Hayes won't be in this class either. After two years of injuries what on earth makes you believe Fitz will ever be healthy. Reminds me of Minor except we actually got to see what Brandon could do Fitz not so much so. Nealy won't come either with no RR.

As much as I like Demetrius Hart, we have a handful of other running backs. If Fitzgerald Toussaint can stay healthy, he'll be good. We also have Hayes, potentially Rawls, and potentially Nealy in the mix.

Magnus,

Thank you for being the voice of sanity. For once i completly agree with you.

Again, it is not so much losing Dee Hart as it is a signal to other recruits (some on defense) that UM under RR is a sinking ship and to leave/not commit. While I will refrain from freaking out until we know more, high-profile kids leaving a program in turmoil is never a good sign, even if the school doesn't "need" him.

That was exactly my sentiment. There is a huge transition from HS to college football. Some kids make it, some don't. I would hope that all kids live up to their press clippings, but unfortunately, that is often not the case.

nobody should be the least surprised if it eventually comes to pass, whether for Hart or some other player. You know that Auburn and probably plenty of other schools are getting word to Hart that RR is toast.

Others have commented on other threads that players commit to the school, not the coach, but it's a simple fact that for many, many players, the relationships they form with the coaches that are recruiting them are as important as the institutions themselves.

Given that Brandon will not give any information about RR's status until early January, not only does this potentially jeopardize the recruiting efforts that RR and staff are currently engaged in, but it more directly puts early enrollees like Hart in a quandary. Hart has to have all his paperwork submitted in December in order to enroll as a student in January, which means he would be doing all that with no assurances whatsoever that the coaches who he knows and apparently likes will be there after the bowl game.

Either Brandon has privately given RR the word that no change is imminent, or he simply doesn't care if any of RR's recruits decommit. If Brandon thinks that a coaching change is required, it's logical for him to regard any individual recruit as less important than who he selects as the next coach.

Regardless of Brandon's motives or reasoning, Hart is right now the signature piece of the 2011 class for RR. Losing him because of Brandon's refusal to affirm his status as HC for 2011 would be a bitter blow. However, IIRC, Darren Walls and Kris Frost have been planning early enrollments as well, and it would be a bit ironic if high-profile defensive recruits went elsewhere because of DB's well-justified concerns about the defense have led him to opt for change.

Dee might be switching his commitment (if he has) just to cover his bases in case a worse case scenario change in Michigan coaching staff (e.g. if the new coach isn't interested in him or he doesn't like them). He probably knows that RR would take him back in a heartbeat so he is just playing it safe. I could be wrong, but thats why I would do. In other words, we can get him back quickly if RR stays. Although lets be honest, no endorsement by DB means no job for RR next year. I'm sure DB knows has already made his decision which means DB doesn't want him back. Nothing good comes from waiting to endorse RR if you want to keep him. However, I think RR keeps his job in the case a "better candidate" isn't available.

I'll say this - let's not start knocking Hart or other kids if they do decide to leave. I know it is human nature, but boards become a feedback loop of "I only care about kids who are all in" or "whatever, I'll bet he sucks" blah blah rabble rabble. That's not fair to the kids or the school, and makes everyone look petty and vindictive. If I had been blessed with world-class speed, great hands, massive size, and/or great reflexes and I had a pick of schools at which to play a sport I loved, and the school I preferred and the coach I liked suddenly might not be together in 6 weeks, I would definitely question my decision. That is human nature. Let's keep it classy here.

Are the Dr. Phillips kids still planning on coming up for a group visit? Talk about awkward. The only thing more awkward would be if Jim H. was originally gonna come to the football banquet....wait.......huh?

4. If the said rumor turns out to be true, maybe his easily shaken character (to be seen) is not "Michigan Man" material and we wouldn't want him anyways. If he picks the ESS EEE SEE over Michigan, so be it. See you in 2012 Dee.

We do want him though. To say otherwise is being disingenuous. If this is true I honestly couldn't blame him or knock his character. I might do the same thing is his position. There is so much stupid fucking drama surrounding this program. We really only have ourselves to blame.

doubt we want him, but not getting him won't cost us a season. Hopkins, Shaw, T-Saint, Smith will all be healthy and a year better next year. So if we lose him, the only thing we could do is point to the scoreboard in 2012. Michigan- 50 'Bama- 2 (Lewan donkey kicks ball out of the back of the endzone at the elephant mascot).

Anything but this, please Lord I can't take anymore $hit! I can't blame UM fans for holding the belief that RR should be fired but this is seriously pathetic. You DONT hire a coach unless you give him 4-5 years to fully implement their system. Instead a vocal faction of our fan base were calling for his job even before his plane landed in AA. Bo is rolling in his grave right now, bless his soul.

Do you people realize that Dee would be the best runningback RR has ever signed, the guy might win the best high school player of the year award, are you kidding me? Dee Hart would be an absolute game changer, this would be a bigger loss than Demar Dorsey.

Ah, I knew there was something up! Damn Mercury has started retrograding! It all makes sense:

Friday, December 10th, 2010, Mercury the wise communicator—and universal trickster—turns retrograde at 5°54' Capricorn, in the sign of the Sea-Goat, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until December 30, 2010, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.

If he does commit to Alabama, it will be telling if he says he will enter school early still or wait till the end of the year. If he is going to stay for his last hs semester, maybe its just a sign that he is hedging his bet regarding RR. If he is going to start early at bama, than I am going to have a sad.

We have and will have backs who can get it done. A healthy Toussaint and Hopkins with a year of Barwis, plus V. Smith & Shaw healthy, plus Rawls, Hayes, etc. We are fine. RB is not the problem.

If 'Bama flipped the kid, it's b/c they sold him (and Ha-Ha probably had something to do with it).

I refuse to believe that D. Hart would switch b/c of Coach Rod being in a little limbo. There's an entire month b/w the bowl game and signing day, plenty of time for Hart to see what the actual fate of RR is before he decides.

What a blow for the class. Although the childish people will say he sucks we dont need him this and that... we really do lets hope DB gets his shit together soon so our recruiting shapes up the way we all thought it would

To clarify the people who will say he sucks are childish, the people who say we dont need him arent being childish although most of those people who say we dont need him were probably the first to say he is the savior of michigan football when he committed

Talked to one of my friends today that I used to play high school football with and he is a kicker. When i asked him about his college search he said Michigan is starting to talk to him a little bit. His name is Aaron Mick and I'm sorry I don't have much more proof than what the kid tells me but I figured it could be something that may turn into a positive. This year he hit a 52 yarder 6th on the MHSAA record list. He goes to Parkway Christian Schools. Since I am new here i didnt know how to start a new topic and I dont know how to embed things but here is his recruiting film. Other schools that have shown interest in him are Stanford, Illinois, Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, and now UofM. He told me he would be willing to take a walk on just wants to play football. Sorry that i dont have much proof and the kid is not on any of the recruiting sites i dont believe (I'm an espn insider so thats where my info comes from.)

Swear im not his parents but like i said im a pretty good friend to the kid. He was just in Texas for a college kicking camp, I graduated from the same school as him and played with him. I got to CMU as you can see from the name mgochips

I only bring that up since this has a similar storyline...although this Dee Hart drama could in fact be legit (I don't have exclusive forum subscriptions so until the man comes out and says it, it's a rumor in my book). Regardless of this rumor/innuendo that's come to light tonight, we all know this negativity's affect on our fan base can be nicely summed up by this: